We're all in this together

Last night Rathcoole Presbyterian Church delivered about 2000 Christmas cards to homes in Rathcoole. Why? To wish people a happy Christmas.

Is there still room for uncynical acts of goodwill in this day and age? Sometimes I wonder.  Churches get so caught up at times in advertising and invitation that it must seem very contrived to 'people out there'.

So how do we know if we as a church genuinely care about people or if we are only interested in bums on seats?  If someone tells you that they are a Christian do you  celebrate with them or do you automatically wonder what church they go to and if you approve or not? When talking to someone who is not yet a Christian are you happy to promote a church local to them or do you make it out like yours is the only Church worth going to?

I know that all churches don't behave in the same ways and doctrines can be different too but unless those differences are causing a church to step outside the teaching of the Bible then we should be happy to see it grow and see people come to faith through it.

I bring this up because I am guilty of it, I loose sight on occasion that this is the Lord's church and it is his battle we are fighting.  It must be very displeasing for Him to see His bride at war with itself, especially when it can be over such petty issues or jealousy of another's apparent success. 

Let's instead delight in doing good for people, share the Gospel when and where we can and let's not turn everything into an exercise of self-promotion.

If you are not a Christian and you look on the church as a squabbling self-interested hypocrite-filled organisation then I apologise that we have caused you to feel that way.  The truth is that the church is full of people who are very far from perfect and if it weren't for the grace of God we would be nowhere.  The good news is that if you are imperfect God can save you by grace as well and you can come and join us on our struggle to be better, it helps when we do it together.

   I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:1-6

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Everyone is special in their own way, we make each other strong. We're not the same; we're different in a good way. Together's where we belong.

Poetic.

If you'd like to see a photo of me looking like a homeless ex-con click here and if you'd like to read an interview all about my good self then click here. Much obliged.

Extraordinarily ordinary

7 down 83 to go.

Yes we now have the first week of our 90 day challenge over us.  The books of Exodus and Genesis have been read and the great stories that we learnt in childhood have been remembered and some the the ones they forgot to teach us too. 

We had the weak Adam and his ambitious wife.  The dysfunctional families of Noah and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob culminating in Joseph who himself seemed pretty annoying in his younger days.  Then after a few centuries Moses entered the fray.  Here was a man who didn't want to be the one, he didn't want to speak on behalf of his God and set his people free. 

All the while these very human people were messing up, taking backward steps and, on occasion, being first-class idiots, God was there.  He was patiently working His plan through the great patriarchs of old who were, on close examination, not much different from the likes of you and me.  Fallen, in need of grace and doing anything good only by the will of God.

It is simply fantastic that our God can use ordinary people to do extra-ordinary things.  I've never been so pleased to be an ordinary person.

Next up is Leviticus.  This book gets a pretty bad rap at times.  I can understand why; this is not a story book and in some ways it does not feel too relevant in our modern age. However it is extremely relevant.  Leviticus is a book which shows us not just the law of God but gives us an insight into the reasons for the laws.  The protection of the poor and the rights of women are recurrent themes as with the promotion of habits leading to a healthy lifestyle.  There is also a strong emphasis on the importance of holiness.

Over and above all this is the sense that the standard is too high.  People can not live up to the standards of God and need regular atonement for their wrong-doing through a system of sacrifices. Unfortunately even these sacrifices are not good enough to last beyond the second they are offered.  If only there was a sacrifice that could be offered once, that would last for all time and that would cover everybody's sin!

Unlike the other high priests, he [Jesus] does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Hebrews 7:27

I have been relearning a few things through this process already:

* I do have the time to read the bible but sometimes I lack the will to prioritise it.
* Every time the Bible is read something is taught.
* Reading the Bible does not stop me sinning.

What have you learnt?

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Some mid-week music from Mr Jeremy Camp and his far from ordinary facial hair.



Actually?

Last night, as Rathcoole was covered in a layer of icing, the Christmas feeling was starting to hit.

We had some visitors, there was Roger and the Special One and the Special One's Better Half.  Unfortunately one of our number had been detained by Peter Kay but we'll not hold that against him.  After a brief chat about how I had missed the most important part of the Downpatrick Christmas tree saga - the fact that Jedward turned on the lights (thanks to the well-informed Special One's Better Half) - the six of us decided to indulge in all things festive with a film that celebrates the true meaning of the season - Love Actually.

Ah what a heart-warming tale it is. Love, loss, and inevitably, love again.  Staring the annoyingly handsome Hugh Grant, the charmingly handsome Colin Firth, the awkwardly handsome Martin Freeman, the ruggedly handsome Liam Neeson and Alan Rickman.  Not to mention Tiffany from Neighbours, little Keira Knightly and the fabulous Emma Thompson.

This film is set in a perfect world where it doesn't matter if you catch your brother sleeping with your wife or if your gay best friend fancies your bride, or if you're a bumbling Prime Minister who slags off the US president, or if your husband is buying expensive gifts to his secretary or if you are a porn star. It's all OK just as long as you have love, actually.

Despite the cynical, heart-string pulling, implausible storyline, I quite liked it, actually.  It's one of those films that just makes you feel nice inside (in an amoral, whats-the-world-coming-to kind of way).

In a way the message is exactly on track.  It matters not what way you have lived your life because love can conquer all.  But it's not the love of a beautiful woman it's the love of God and your loving response to that love.  That love will quite literally cover a multitude of sins, it is all around us, it must be that love, that love changes everything.

This unique love is a perfect one.  Not marred by betrayal or jealousy or hurt. It's a love of the Holy for the unholy, it's forgiving, redeeming, sanctifying love.  It is miraculous and it is mine.  Maybe it's yours too (you'll understand why I feel this way about it), if it's not and you want it, you can have it.

If you are alone or just lonely, if you are heart-broken or a heart-breaker there is a love that will change your life for ever.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

John 4:10

How lovely are your branches?

The good people of Downpatrick were distraught this week when a sub-standard Christmas tree was erected in the town.  Oh dear.

To be fair the tree was pretty pathetic.  It was a scrawny beast with neither shape nor make - a truly ignoble fir.

In this age of austerity I suppose the council was trying to do the citizens a good turn by getting a Christmas tree from the dump instead of an imported Norwegian job costing thousands.  I mean what do people want - hospitals or Christmas decorations?

To be fair the thing wasn't in a great location. It was plonked between a toilet block and a postbox.  Apparently this was the only place available that wouldn't be a health and safety risk to pedestrians.  And to make absolutely sure that there was no danger they erected a large industrial fence around it.  Season to be jolly?  Somebody was having a laugh.

Thankfully, due the media getting involved there has now been a new tree put up in it's traditional spot in the centre of Downpatrick.  Of course at the moment that area is a construction site but no-one seems too worried about that. 

So everyone goes away happy, all is right with the world, Christmas is Christmas again.

It's amazing how some little things in peoples lives can get them so het up.  Of course it happens to all of us, it happens to me frequently.  I get all riled up about all sorts of nonsense and then other big things don't even register.  I think sometimes it's easier to give out about ineffectual things because we feel at least we have a chance to be heard, to do something about them.  When it comes to the big stuff we have no say.  We don't have control over world politics or famine, or persecution, or the weather.  We don't have the ear of the President or the Queen or the Prime Minister.  We have no-one to give off too about the state of our schools or the deficit or bankers bonuses.  Or do we? Any suggestions?

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Ephesians 6:18

Never too old

Old age is a gift which, sadly, some are never given.  Even more sadly some chosoe to squander this gift.  It's not always their fault; our society says that when you finish working for money you are done, over, useless, put out to graze, washed up... you get the idea.

That is shameful.

As part of the 90 day challenge we've been reading about the trials and tribulations of Abraham.  Now you may think of Abraham as a holy man, close to God and close to perfect.  He was certainly close to God but perfect he was not.

There's lots to say about the man but the best thing to do if you want to know all about him is to read Genesis 12 -25. (Another top tip is to get yourself along to Rathcoole Presbyterian Church to hear Stewart Glendinning preach about him.)  There is one thing that I have to mention though...

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”

Genesis 17:1-2

Ninety-nine! After this promise to Abraham he had several children, almost sacrificed one of them, met some angels, witnessed the destruction of two cities, talked with Kings, buried one wife and married another.... In short, he had a busy retirement.

Don't get me wrong I know that not everyone is going to find themselves in the same situations as Abraham, not everyone will even make it to that age, but anyone who says they are too old to be useful to God needs to read about Abraham's life and think again.

Abraham did some of his best work as an old guy, not to mention all the physical activity he found time for.  In God's eyes it seems that saying 'I'm too old' is a sign of immaturity.

As we age there are certain limitations imposed on us by our ever weakening bodies, this seems to start about the age of 18.  But when we have Christ we are more than the sum of our parts, we are more than our weaknesses, in fact God says, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness' (2 Corinthians 12:9)

In summary you 'can do all things through Him who gives [you] strength'. Philippians 4:13

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Check out this awful song.  This is the original version of the Bluebells hit, 'Young at Heart' by Bananarama.

Snowed under

You may have not have noticed but there's a bit of snow about.

It's not too bad here in Rathcoole but in parts of Armagh, Ireland and Britain it appears to be quite rough. Roads are blocked airports are at a standstill and schools are closed.

As a result a lot of people can't get into work, instead they work from home.

Many think 'working from home' is just a euphemism for enjoying a bit of a skive.  Sending a few emails and then spending a couple of hours watching Bargain Hunt or Jeremy Kyle with a toasted bagel and a cup of coffee.  But is it really like that.

Given the chance would you skive of work and never let on?

As someone who is based at home I know the temptation only too well.  I need to set myself rules like 'no TV during the day' and try to get a routine together.  For me being busy is liberating because the fight against procrastination is won by the necessity to get things done.  It's the days when I need to do preparation in the 'study' or come up with new ideas etc that are the danger days.  I'd appreciate your prayers for my concentration on those days.

To be able to work when no-one is looking is a measure of character.  To be diligent with tasks with no deadlines, to do what you should not just what you are required to.  If you had a snow-day how would you spend it, would you waste it or would you fill it with something useful?  How much of a day off would you spend on facebook for example compared to how long you might spend in prayer?

This is a challenge to me, maybe it is for you too.

Lazy hands make for poverty, 

but diligent hands bring wealth.

Proverbs 10:4

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One thing you could do on a free day read that day's portion of the 90 day bible reading challenge.  Yesterday's (day one) was very enjoyable and didn't take too long in the end. Of course it's easier to break a habit than make one so we've got to keep at it.

Givin' it 90

The bible is the greatest selling book in the world ever - fact.  Most of us have one somewhere in the house, some of us read it regularly, some semi-regularly, some never look at it at all.

It is a book of many stories but they are all part of one overall story. A story of unrequited love of the Good towards the bad.  A story of redemption and reconciliation. A love conquers all story with violence, political intrique, lust and betrayal.  A story which spans countries and lasts for centuries.  A story of frustration and hope and one which ends with a climax to match no other.  A true story.

Some of you I'm sure will have read every word and are doing that continually, I applaud you for that. The bible as well as a story is a book packed with timeless truths, a book that you can live your life by.  Reading the bible is the clearest and most understandable way to know it's auther - God Himself.  He is the author of life and He has revealed Himself through the bible.  This is His story.

I have read it, every word.  But recently my reading has been somewhat unstructured, I drift a little from passage to passage, I lack a little discipline. So I'm going to do something about it and I would like you to join me.

Using the 90 day reading plan spoken of by Caroline Moore in last Friday's post I will attempt to read the whole story in three months, and Caroline is going to do it with me.  Want to join us?

This is not a sponsored event, or a gimmick.  It's not to show-off or to raise our Holy rating.  God will not love us or you more for doing this or love us less for not doing it.  Instead the aim is to immerse ourselves in God's word.  To enjoy the simple story of love that will not fail.  To jump into the Word of God and roll about in it, to indulge ourselves with God's words.  Walking and talking with Him as He personally guides us through the Great book He has written.

It works out at around 15 chapters a day.  That's a lot and I'm not sure I could keep that up for ever but for three months I know it's possible.  The idea is not to read 15 chapters in the time it would normally take to read one or two but rather to jealously make time for it, prioritising.  Like you do when you're reading a page turning novel or engrossed in a box-set or in the mood for a lovely daydream.

I'll put up the bible readings on a weekly basis (They will be at the top of the sidebar they way they are now), we can do it together.  I'll keep you posted from time to time on how we are getting on and, if you wish, you can do the same.  If we fail we are not failures but if we succeed we will benefit enormously.

Today is day 1.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, 

a light on my path.

Psalm 119:105

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Some mid-week music now; The mighty Third Day with Lift up Your Face.